UMASS/AMHERST 


312066  0333  2796  2 


llilder,  ^larshall    Pinckney,   1798-1386. 

Address  delivered  at  the  semi-centennial   anniversary 
of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural    Society. 


SPECIAL 

COLLECTIONS 

S 


1879 


ADDRESS 


DErjVERKP    AT 


THE   SEMI-CENTENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY 


MASSACHUSETTS 


HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY, 


SEPTEMBER  12,  1879. 


MAESHALL     P.    WILDER, 


EX-rilESIIIENT   OF   THE   SOCIKTY. 


BOSTON : 

FRANKLIN  rRP:SS  :   RAND,  AVERY,  &  CO., 

1879. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

Special  Collections  &  Rare  Books 


ADDRESS. 


Members   and    Friends   of  the  Massachusetts  Horti- 
CULTURAE  Society. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen^  —  Assembled  as  we  are  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society, 
and  in  its  own  temple,  to  commemorate  the  completion 
of  its  first  half-century,  it  is  natural  to  take  a  glance  at 
the  way  over  which  we  have  travelled. 

From  the  days  when  Peregrine  White  planted  the  first 
apple-tree,  and  Gov.  Endicott  the  first  pear-tree,  within 
the  limits  of  our  State  ;  from  the  time  when  Gov.  Win- 
throp  planted  his  garden  on  Governor's  Island,  or  Black- 
stone  his  orchard  in  Boston,  —  Massachusetts  has  been 
famous  for  her  gardens.  But  the  progress  of  horticul- 
ture was  for  a  long  time  slow  and  feeble.  It  is  eminently 
one  of  the  arts  of  peace  ;  and  we  find,  that,  after  the  close 
of  the  Revolution,  the  first  organized  attempt  in  this 
country  to  advance  the  progress  of  agriculture  (which 
includes  hoi:ticulture)  was  made  by  the  formation  of  the 
Philadelphia  Society  for  Promoting  Agriculture,  which 
was  soon  followed  by  the  formation  of  the  jNIassachu- 
setts  Society  for  Promoting  Agriculture.  In  like  man- 
ner, the  close  of  the  last  war  with  England  was  followed, 
in  1818,  by  the  organization  of  the  first  horticultural 
society  in  the  country,  —  that  of  New  York.  The  next 
society,  that  of  Pennsylvania,  was  organized  in  Novem- 
ber, 1827,  and  is  therefore  the  oldest  society  in  the 
country  which  has  had  a  continued  existence  to  the 
present  day. 


The  progress  and  improvement  of  horticulture  since 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century  had  been  more 
rapid  than  before  ;  and  it  was  doubtless  a  perception  of 
this  fact,  in  connection  with  the  belief  that  its  advance- 
ment might  be  made  still  more  rapid,  and  the  example 
of  other  societies,  which  led  to  the  formation  of  the 
Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society.  The  subject  had 
been  much  discussed  among  lovers  of  horticulture  ;  and 
on  the  24th  of  February,  1829,  a  bitterly  cold  clay,  when 
the  streets  were  piled  with  snow,  a  meeting  of  sixteen 
gentlemen  convened  at  the  office  of  Zebedee  Cook,  jun., 
71  Congress  Street,  for  the  purpose  of  instituting  a  hor- 
ticultural society.  The  Hon.  John  Lowell,  who  stood  at 
the  head  of  the  horticulturists  of  the  State,  was  chosen 
to  preside  ;  and  Mr.  Cook  was  secretary.  Besides  these, 
there  were  present  H.  A.  S.  Dearborn,  Samuel  Downer, 
John  B.  Russell,  Enoch  Bartlett,  Cheever  Newhall,  Rob- 
ert Manning,  John  M.  Ives,  Andrews  Breed,  and  Henry 
A.  Breed.  The  names  of  the  other  five  are  unknown. 
On  the  17th  of  March  the  constitution  and  by-laws, 
drawn  up  by  Gen.  Dearborn,  were  adopted,  and  officers 
were  chosen.  On  the  12th  of  June  it  was  "enacted 
by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  that 
Zebedee  Cook,  jun.,  Robert  L.  Emmons,  William  Worth- 
ington,  B.  V.  French,  John  B.  Russell,  J.  R.  Newell, 
Cheever  Newhall,  and  Thomas  G.  Fessenden,  their 
associates  and  successors,  be,  and  they  hereby  are.  in- 
corporated under  the  name  and  by  the  description  of 
the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  encouraging  and  improving  the  science  and 
practice  of  horticulture,  and  promoting  the  amelioration 
of  the  various  species  of  trees,  fruits,  plants,  and  vege- 
tables, and  the  introduction  of  new  species  and  varie- 
ties." Thus,  like  the  morning  suu,  whose  rays,  sendiug 
forth  their  healthful  and  benign  influences,  light  up  the 


landscape  w  th  crystal  dews,  floral  gems,  luscious  fruits, 
and  golden  harvests,  there  arose  a  new  era  in  the  science 
of  American  horticulture,  which  has  not  only  extended 
its  influences  all  over  our  own  continent,  hut  has  reached, 
enriched,  beautified,  and  energized  other  portions  of  the 
world.  Although  not  so  early  in  its  inception  by  more 
than  a  year  as  the  Pennsylvania  Horticultural  Society, 
it  was  the  first  incorporated  horticultural  society  on  this 
continent,  with  the  exception  of  the  New- York  society 
before  mentioned.  Its  first  premium  list  was  issued  in 
June,  1829 ;  while  the  first  list  of  the  Pennsylvania 
society  was  adopted  in  January,  1830. 

Of  the  eleven  persons  who  are  known  as  having  at- 
tended the  meeting  on  the  21th  of  February,  1829,  foiir 

—  Messrs.  Pussell  and  Ives  and  the  two  Messrs.  Breed 

—  are  still  living  ;  while  Mr.  Russell  is  the  only  survivor 
of  the  eight  named  in  the  charter. 

From  its  first  president  down  to  the  present  time,  the 
society  has  been  fortunate  in  securing  gentlemen  to  fill 
the  chair,  all  of  whom  have  been  cultivators  of  the 
soil,  and  lovers  of  rural  art.  Dearborn,  Cook,  Vose, 
Walker,  Cabot,  Breck,  and  Stickney  have  gone  before 
us  ;  but  their  works  do  follow  them ;  while,  thanks  to 
a  kind  Providence !  Hovey,  Hyde,  Strong,  Parkman, 
Gray,  and  he  who  now  addressOvS  you,  are  still  spared  to 
labor  in  carrying  out  the  beneficent  designs  of  its  noble 
founders.  And  permit  me,  without  detracting  from  the 
enterprise  and  ability  of  other  pioneers,  to  say  that  to 
Henry  Alexander  Scammel  Dearborn,  —  the  first  presi- 
dent, whose  name  will  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remem- 
brance, —  more  than  to  any  other  man,  are  we  indebted 
for  the  prestige  and  popularity  of  the  society,  at  home 
and  abroad,  in  its  eaily  history.  Others  there  are 
whose  names  will  be  gratefully  remembered,  and  cher- 
ished as  co-laborers  and  benefactors  of  the  society, 
among  whom  Robert  Manning  of  Salem,  —  the    great 


6 


leader  and  reformer  in  American  pomology,  who  during 
his  lifetime  collected  nearly  two  thousand  varieties  of 
fruits,  —  Downer  at  Dorchester,  ever  alert  on  the  search 
for  new  native  fruits,  Kenrick  of  Newton,  the  Winships 
at  Brighton,  John  Prince,  Enoch  Bartlett,  Elias  Phinney, 
George  W.  Pratt,  B.  V.  French,  Aaron  D.  Weld,  Aaron 
D.  Williams,  and  David  Haggerston,  may  be  mentioned 
as  ]3re-eminent. 

The  society  immediately  entered  upon  the  work  for 
which  it  was  established,  by  opening  a  correspondence 
with  leading  European  horticulturists,  by  laying  the 
foundation  of  a  library,  and  in  every  other  way  which 
the  active  mind  of  President  Dearborn,  who  was  fore- 
most in  every  good  work,  could  devise.  And  be  it  ever 
remembered  that  to  this  society  the  community  is 
indebted  for  the  foundation  and  consecration  of  Mount 
Auburn  Cemetery,  —  the  first  rural  cemetery  in  the 
country.  This  was  combined  with  an  Experimental  Gar- 
den, some  of  whose  products  were  shown  at  the  exhi- 
bitions of  the  society.  Although  it  was  found  expedient 
to  relinquish  the  control  of  the  cemetery  to  another 
corporation,  its  establishment  has  proved  of  the  highest 
advantage  to  the  society,  in  ways  not  anticipated  when 
it  was  founded,  which  was  but  about  two  years  from  the 
incorporation  of  the  society. 

But  the  method  which  the  society  has  ever  found 
most  advantageous  for  the  promotion  of  its  objects  is 
the  exhibition  of  the  products  of  the  garden  in  its 
various  departments  ;  and  a  glance  at  these  exhibitions 
will  be  both  appropriate  and  interesting. 

The  first  exhibition  of  which  we  have  any  record 
was  on  the  20th  of  June,  1829,  when  there  were  about 
thirty  varieties  of  roses  on  the  tables.  As  the  season 
advanced,  the  exhibitions  increased  in  extent  and 
beauty ;  that  of  August  1  surpassing,  we  are  told,  any 
preceding  show.     August  29,  Samuel  11.  Johnson  brought 


Washington  plums  measuring  six  inches  and  a  quarter 
in  circumference,  and  weighing  nearly  three  ounces 
each.  The  Annual  Exhibition  was  confined  to  the  fruits 
and  flowers  displayed  on  the  table  at  the  Exchange 
Coffee  House,  where  the  anniversary  dinner  was  pro- 
vided ;  but  it  is  said  "  the  show  of  fruits  and  flowers 
generally  was  probably  never  surpassed  in  New  Eng- 
land." The  Bloodgood  and  Urbaniste  pears,  with  others 
once  highly  prized,  but  which  have  now  been  super- 
seded, were  shown  for  the  first  time.  No  prizes  were 
awarded  this  year;  but  on  the  15th  of  May,  1830,  A. 
Aspinwall  received  the  prize  for  the  best  six  tulips ;  and 
George  W.  Pratt,  the  prize  for  the  best  six  Rammculns 
Asiaticus^  —  the  first  premiums  ever  awarded  by  the 
society.  July  24,  E.  Phinney  sent  Moorpark  apricots 
six  inches  in  circumference,  which  received  the  pre- 
mium. The  Williams,  Benoni,  Porter,  Hubbardston 
Nonsuch,  and  Gravenstein  apples,  made  their  appear- 
ance for  the  first  time.  A  single  specimen  of  the 
Duchesse  d'Angouleme  pear  was  produced  by  Samuel 
G.  Perkins,  and  pronounced  superior  to  the  St. 
Michael.  Fruit  was  at  this  time  a  more  prominent 
object  than  flowers.  The  only  flowers  of  which  any 
considerable  variety  was  exhibited  were  the  geranium, 
rose,  and  chrysanthemum.  Forced  vegetables  were 
shown  by  Mrs.  Gore's  gardener.  Capt.  Smith  of 
Quincy  presented  "  a  kind  of  manure  from  Peru,  called 
by  the  Spaniards  guano.'' 

The  exhibitions  of  flowers,  which  had  been  largely 
of  hardy  herbaceous  plants,  began  in  1831  to  show  a 
decided  increase  in  green-house  plants,  such  as  camel- 
lias, Musa  coccinea,  Hoya  caniosa,  Maranta  zehrina,  Sec. 
The  Dearborns  Seedling  pear  was  shown  from  the 
original  tree.  June  15,  1833,  Messrs.  Winships  con- 
tributed a  hundred  and  thirty  varieties  of  roses. 

The  Annual  Exhibition  in  1834  was  held  in  Faneuil 


8 


Hall,  and  was  the  first  on  the  plan  which  has  every 
year  since  been  continued,  and  fulfilled  the  high  expec- 
tations which  had  been  formed.  The  Gladiolus  Natalen- 
sis,  or  psittacinus,  was  shown  by  Samuel  Sweetser,  and 
the  marrow  squash  by  John  ]M.  Ives.  March  7,  1835, 
the  first  Indian  azaleas  were  presented  by  Thomas 
Mason  of  the  Charlestown  Vineyard.  July  2,  1836, 
Marshall  P.  Wilder  exhibited  Gladiolus  floribundus.  The 
Belle  Lucrative  and  Beurre  Bosc  pears  were  shown  by 
Robert  Manning  at  the  Annual  Exhibition.  In  1837 
the  first  orchid  mentioned,  Oncidium  jlexuosum^  with 
ninety-seven  expanded  blooms,  came  from  Marshall  P. 
AVilder.  The  Large  Yellow  Bough  apple,  and  the 
Rostiezer  and  Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey  pears,  were 
shown  for  the  first  time.  The  FMox  Drummondi  was 
first  seen  this  year.  June  9,  1838,  W.  Kenrick  showed 
Wistaria  Consequana,  which  had  just  been  ascertained 
to  be  hardy.  The  Verbena  Tweediana  was  extensively 
cultivated  and  greatly  admired.  The  rhubarb  and 
tomato  were  coming  into  general  cultivation  at  this 
time.  Hovey's  Seedling  strawberry  was  first  shown 
June  29,  1839.  The  dahlia  had  been  growing  in 
popularity ;  and  on  the  23d  of  September,  1840,  the 
first  grand  Dahlia  Show  commenced,  and  continued 
four  days.  Nearly  three  thousand  blooms  were  dis- 
played, besides  asters  and  other  flowers.  August  11, 
1841,  Lilium  lancifolium  was  shown  by  Marshall  P. 
Wilder,  and  pronounced  by  the  committee  "  a  superb 
plant ; "  but  its  hardiness  was  not  known  until  some 
years  later. 

In  1842,  cidtivators  having  learned  from  Mr.  Plag- 
gerston's  discovery,  to  which  he  was  stimulated  by  a 
premium  of  one  hundred  dollars  offered  by  the-  society, 
how  to  prevent  the  ravages  of  the  rose-slug,  the  exhibi- 
tion of  roses  was  finer  than  ever.  The  Elizabeth  pear 
was  shown  by  II.  Manning,  and  the  Tyson  by  A\'illiam 


9 


Oliver.  In  this  year  the  anniversary  of  the  society  was 
celebrated  by  the  first  Triennial  Festival.  It  was  held 
at  Concert  Hall,  which  on  this  occasion  presented  a 
scene  of  unsurpassed  beauty.  The  question  of  admit- 
ting ladies  to  the  tables  had  been  discussed ;  and  objec- 
tions were  made  on  the  ground,  that,  if  we  had  the 
ladies,  we  could  not  have  wine  :  but  the  better  judgment 
prevailed,  the  wine  being  cast  out,  and  women  being- 
kept  in.  And  here  I  am  reminded  that  when,  in  1830, 
"  women's  rights"  were  incidentally  discussed  on  a  prop- 
osition to  elect  as  honorary  members  Mrs.  Gov.  Gore, 
Mrs.  Dix,  and  Mrs.  Griffith  of  New  Jersey,  all  known  for 
their  zeal  in  forwarding  the  objects  of  the  society,  some 
thought  it  of  doubtful  expediency,  because  a  Avoman  in 
the  garden  made  great  trouble  as  long  ago  as  the  days 
of  Adam.  Gen.  Dearborn,  however,  silenced  all  cavil- 
lers, and  the  candidates  were  admitted ;  and  now  ladies 
are  elected,  not  merely  honorary,  but  immediate  mem- 
bers ;  and  not  only  are  our  discussions  and  other  meet- 
ings graced  by  their  presence,  but  their  contributions  to 
the  exhibitions  are  among  *  the  most  beautiful  and 
attractive  in  the  halls.  The  Bon  Silene  rose  was  first 
exhibited  May  20,  18J:3.  The  Lawrence  and  Doyenne 
Boussock  pears,  and  the  Mother,  Ladies'  Sweet,  and 
Northern  Spy  apples,  were  first  brought  before  the  so- 
ciety in  the  same  year.  August  24,  184:1:,  sixteen  dishes 
of  Washington  plums  were  shown  by  as  many  contrib- 
utors. Some  of  the  largest  specimens  averaged  three 
ounces  and  One-eighth  in  weight.  The  next  week  there 
were  seventy  dishes  of  plums,  in  thirty  varieties.  The 
Beurre  d'Anjou  pear  was  shown  by  Marshall  P.  Wilder 
at  the  annual  exhibition. 

This  brings  us  to  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  the 
society,  —  the  erection  of  the  first  horticultural  hall, 
—  which  suggests  a  brief  review  of  what  may  be  called 
the  first  era  in  the  history  of  the  society.     It  was  espe- 


10 


cially  noted  for  zeal  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit,  and  most 
of  all  of  the  pear.  The  leading  cultivators  sought  to 
bring  together  in  theu'  collections  all  known  varieties,  to 
test  their  qualities  and  their  adaptation  to  our  climate. 
The  fruit-growers  of  our  day  have  but  a  faint  idea  of 
the  vast  amount  of  care,  time,  labor,  and  money,  spent 
in  making  the  collections  from  which  has  been  obtained 
the  information,  now  so  easily  accessible  to  all,  as  to 
the  most  desirable  varieties  for  cultivation.  And  not 
only  Avere  the  best  varieties  unknown,  but  there  was 
much  confusion  and  perplexity  in  the  nomenclature  of 
fruits.  To  clear  up  this  confusion  by  careful  compari- 
son was  another  object  in  making  large  collections  of 
fruit.  This  work,  in  its  various  branches,  was  so  dili- 
gently begun  and  pursued  during  this  first  era  of  the 
society,  as  to  form  its  most  prominent  feature.  It  was 
an  era  of  collections. 

The  lovers  of  flowers  were  hardly  less  diligent  in  col- 
lecting every  novelty  in  their  branch  of  horticulture. 
The  enthusiasm  in  the  cultivation  of  the  dahlia  eclipsed 
even  the  love  for  the  rose.  Every  new  variety  an- 
nounced in  European  catalogues  was  imported,  some- 
times at  enormous  cost ;  and  special  shows  were  held  for 
the  display  of  the  finest  specimens.  The  number  of 
varieties  of  roses  had  increased  so  that  those  who  could 
remember  when  there  were  but  from  six  to  ten  Aarie- 
ties,  limited  in  their  time  of  flowering  to  the  month  of 
June,  could  count  them  by  hundreds  ;  and.  some  of  them 
were  in  bloom  nearly  the  whole  year.  Next  in  impor- 
tance to  the  dahlia  and  the  rose  as  a  floral  gem  in  the 
open  air,  came  the  hyacinth.  The  tulip  was  much  more 
largely  grown  than  it  is  now ;  and  beds  containing  thou- 
sands of  bulbs,  and  protected  by  houses  built  to  screen 
them  from  the  sun  and  bad  weather,  were  shown  in  per- 
fection. Among  green-house  plants,  the  collections 
were  particularly  rich  in  camellias.     It  was  during  this 


11 


era  that  ocean  steam-navigation  was  established,  giving 
a  powerful  impetus  to  horticulture  by  the  facilities 
which  it  afForclecl  for  the  interchange  and  concentration 
of  the  fruits  and  flowers  of  every  climate,  many  of  which 
found  a  place  in  the  orchards  and  gardens  of  New  Eng- 
land. And  not  only  in  NeAv  England,  but  in  distant 
States,  might  be  seen  fruits  and  flowers  whose  existence 
could  be  traced  to  the  influence  of  the  Massachusetts 
Horticultural  Society. 

I  have  thus  briefly  summed  up  some  of  the  principal 
events  in  the  history  of  the  first  era  of  the  society. 
Prosperous  and  progressive  as  it  had  been  during  its 
first  fifteen  years,  we  come  now  to  an  event  which 
marks  an  epoch,  and  introduces  a  new  era  in  its  his- 
tory,—  the  erection  of  the  first  horticultural  hall,  which 
was,  so  far  as  is  known,  the  first  building  ever  erected 
for  the  use  of  any  horticultural  society  in  the  world. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  on  the  14th  of  September, 

1844,  with  appropriate  services,  in  the  presence  of  a 
large  assembly,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Latin  schoolhonse, 
now  covered  by  the  east  end  of  the  Parker  House.  He 
who  now  addresses  you  performed  the  service  of  de- 
positing the  leaden  casket  of  coins  and  documents,  and 
pronouncing  a  brief  address  on  the  rise  and  progress  of 
the  society  to  that  day.  Of  the  fifteen  members  of  the 
building  committee,  only  Mr.  C.  M.  Hovey  and  myself 
still  live.     The  hall  was  dedicated  on  the  15th  of  May, 

1845,  with  an  address  by  Hon.  George  Lunt,  and  was 
formally  opened  to  the  public  at  the  exhibition  on  the 
31st  of  the  same  month.  In  the  words  of  Mr.  ECovey, 
in  his  address  on  laying  the  corner-stone  of  the  present 
edifice  in  1864,  "  From  that  time,  the  progress  of  the 
society  has  been  more  rapid,  and  the  influence  felt 
throughout  the  entire  country.  New  life  and  fresh 
vitality  were  infused  into  the  society.  It  had  the  sym- 
pathy, as  it  had  the  substantial  aid,  of  the  public.     It 


12 


was  appreciated  as  its  founders  intended  it  should  be. 
Its  objects  seemed  all  at  once  to  become  apparent." 
The  possession  of  a  home  of  its  own  made  it  a  perma- 
nent institution  in  the  community.  The  increased  taste 
for  horticulture,  which  had  led  to  the  erection  of  a  hall, 
was,  in  its  turn,  stimulated  by  the  possession  of  this 
beautiful  building.  The  amount  of  money  appropriated 
for  prizes  —  which  was  in  1829  only  $188,  and  had  been 
gradually  increased  to  |46()  in  1844 — was  in  1845  raised 
to  f  1,200  ;  and  the  exhibitions  became  so  extensive, 
that  it  is  difficult  to  select  the  objects  most  worthy  of 
notice.  Bouquets  were  exhibited  in  great  profusion. 
There  were  on  the  21st  of  June,  1845,  no  less  than 
thirty-three,  from  eight  contributors,  and  in  a  multi- 
plicity of  forms,  —  round  and  flat  vase-bouquets,  round 
and  flat  hand-bouquets,  doubled-faced  flat  hand-bou- 
quets, circular  bouquets,  &c.  At  the  Annual  Exhi- 
bition, prizes  were  offered  for  the  best  designs  ;  and  a 
floral  temple,  a  Gothic  monument,  and  a  Chinese  pa- 
goda, each  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  feet  high,  were 
exhibited,  besides  smaller  designs,  such  as  a  harp,  a 
plough,  an  eagle,  and  a  Newfoundland  dog,  covered 
with  pressed  black  hollyhocks  and  gray  moss,  and  carry- 
ing a  basket  of  flowers.  The  Stephanotis  floribwida.  "  a 
very  rare  and  elegant  hot-house  climber,"  Avas  shown 
by  J.  M.  Thorburn  &  Co.  of  New  York. 

The  beginning  of  the  next  year  (1846)  was  signal- 
ized by  awards,  of  the  value  of  fifty  dollars  each,  for 
the  production  of  the  seedling  camellias  of  Mr.  Wilder, 
the  Queen  of  the  Prairies  rose  of  Samuel  Feast  of 
Baltimore,  and  the  Hovey's  Seedling  strawberry.  The 
]..a  Reine  and  Souvenir  de  Malmaison  roses  were  shown. 
The  exhibitions  of  fruit  were  stimulated  by  the  offer  of 
special  prizes  by  John  P.  Cushing.  In  1847  the  Pro- 
spective Prizes  were  established,  and  medals  w^ere  pro- 
cured to  be  awarded  as  premiums.     At  this  time,  and  for 


13 


some  years  previous,  there  was  a  general  enthusiasm  in 
regard  to  the  hybridization  of  plants,  particularly  the 
came'lia  and  dahlia,  and  also  in  regard  to  the  intro- 
duction of  new  varieties.  As  an  illustration  of  this 
enthusiasm,  we  may  mention  that  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  was  paid  for  a  plant  of  Camellia  Floyii^  and  ten 
guineas  for  a  plant  of  the  Dahlia  Hope.  The  displays 
of  camellias  were  very  extensive  :  on  the  12th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1848,  Marshall  P.  AVilder  exhibited  ihirty-three 
varieties;  Hovey  &  Co.,  sixteen  varieties;  and  J.  L. 
L.  F.  Warren,  twelve  varieties.  The  new  hall  of  the 
society  having  been  found  too  small  for  the  iVnnual 
Exhibition,  it  was  held  in  Faneuil  Hall.  Marshall  P. 
Wilder  exhibited  two  hundred  varieties  of  pears  ;  Robert 
Manning,  two  hundred  and  sixty  varieties  of  pears,  and 
one  hundred  and  eighteen  of  apples  ;  John  Fisk  Allen, 
thirty-three  varieties  of  foreign  grapes ;  and  Samuel 
W.  Cole,  one  hundred  varieties  of  potatoes.  The  first 
special  Pose  Show  was  held  in  June,  1849.  The  next 
year  the  Garden  Committee  was  established.  Hovey  & 
Co.  made  the  first  of  those  beautiful  shows  of  azaleas 
and  rhododendrons  which  have  been  so  much  admired. 
John  P.  Cushing  exhibited  magnificent  specimens  of 
pears  from  walls  and  under  glass.  At  the  Annual  Show 
the  collection  of  one  hundred  and  forty-one  finely 
grown  varieties  of  apples  from  B.  V.  French  was  an 
exhibition  of  itself.  In  1851  the  Weigelia  rosea  was 
introduced  by  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  and  the  Champion 
of  England  pea  by  Azell  Bowditch  ;  the  -Jenny  Lind 
strawberry  was  shown  by  the  originator ;  John  P. 
Cushing  exhibited  a  collection  of  thirty-three  varieties 
of  strawberries  ;  Andre  Leroy  of  Angers,  France,  sent 
a  collection  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  varieties  of 
pears,  including  the  Doyenne  du  Comice,  besides  other 
fruit.  In  1852  Messrs.  Winship  exhibited  the  Dielj/tra 
spectahilis.     The    Annual   Exhibition  was,  in    this  and 


14 

the  two  succeeding  years,  held  under  a  tent  m  the 
Pubhc  Garden  or  the  Common,  givmg  ample  space  for 
a  grand  disphiy.  The  year  1853  was  made  memorable 
by  the  exhibition  by  John  Fisk  Allen,  of  that  extraor- 
dinary plant,  the  Victoria  regia.  The  Concord  grape, 
and  the  Dana's  Hovey  and  the  Beurre  Superfin  pears, 
were  fii-st  shown ;  and  the  first  Prospective  Prize  was 
awarded  to  Hovey  &  Co  for  their  seedling  cherry. 
The  interest  in  native  plants  revived  under  the  exten- 
sive exhibitions  of  Dennis  Murray  and  others.  Igna- 
tius Sargent  sent  several  bunches  of  Black  Hamburg 
grapes,  weighing  upwards  of  four  pounds  each,  and  one 
of  seven  pounds  and  a  half.  The  first  hybrid  grape, 
originated  by  J.  F.  Allen,  and  bearing  his  name,  was 
shown  by  him  in  1854.  From  this  time  we  may  date 
the  interest  in  the  improvement  of  native  grapes,  which 
has  resulted  in  adding  so  many  new  kinds  to  our  cata- 
logues. This  year  also  was  marked  by  the  exhibition, 
from  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  of  the  Cissus  discolor^  one  of 
the  harbingers  of  the  endless  variety  of  ornamental-foli- 
aged  plants  now  so  generally  cultivated  and  admired. 
The  American  Pomological  Society,  in  the  formation  of 
which  our  society  had  been  primarily  instrumental,  met 
in  Horticultural  Hall ;  and  the  members  contributed 
largely  to  the  exhibition  of  fruits  in  the  pavilion  on  the 
Common.  The  Music  Hall,  being  completed  the  next 
year,  commended  itself  as  a  most  desirable  place  for 
the  Annual  Exhibition,  which  was  held  there  for  three 
successive  years,  and  frequently  since.  In  1856  the 
Clematis  Jackmanni^  and  other  varieties,  were  shown 
by  Edward  S.  Rand,  jun.  May  2,  1857,  the  Deutzia 
gracilis  was  shown  by  T.  G.  Whytal  for  the  first  time, 
though  it  had  been  introduced  several  years  before. 
The  Versaillaise  currant  was  exhibited  by  W.  C.  Strong. 
Messrs.  Gracff"  of  New  York  sent  to  the  Annual  Exhibi- 
tion the  first  Wardian  cases.     The  society  returned  to 


15 

the  old  custom  of  an  address  at  the  Annual  Show,  which 
was  delivered  by  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher. 

The  exhibitions  through  the  season  of  1858  were 
held  monthly,  instead  of  weekly,  as  before.  Hovey  & 
Co.  exhibited  at  one  time  twenty-five  varieties  of  sum- 
mer pears,  and,  at  another,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
varieties  of  verbenas.  At  the  Annual  Exhibition  this 
year  were  seen  the  first  indications  of  the  taste  for  ferns 
and  lycopods,  the  beautiful  forms  of  which  are  now 
found  in  every  green-house. 

In  1859  the  Wilson's  Albany  strawberry  was  shown ; 
the  committee  remarking  that  "  the  specimens  did  not, 
on  trial,  commend  themselves  for  their  quality."  Au- 
gust 20,  Hovey  &  Co.  displayed  a  hundred  and  thirty 
varieties  of  annuals,  and,  at  the  Annual  Exhibition,  the 
first  extensive  collection  of  variegated-leaved  plants,  and 
also  of  coniferous  plants.  Orchard-house  culture  was 
gradually  becoming  more  general.  This  year  was  the 
last  in  the  hall  which  had  been  the  home  of  the  society 
for  fifteen  years ;  the  estate  having  been  sold  to  Mr. 
Parker.  The  weekly  shows  were  kept  up  at  Amory 
Hall  the  next  season  with  much  interest.  The  hybrid 
perpetual  roses  showed  the  results  of  increased  atten- 
tion. June  30,  Oliver  Bennet  exhibited  fifty  Crawford's 
Late  peaches,  some  of  which  measured  more  than  a  foot 
in  circumference.  The  Clapp's  Favorite  pear  was 
shown  for  the  first  time.  A  special  prize  for  Bartlett 
pears  at  the  Annual  Exhibition  brought  out  fifty-five 
competitors.  This  year  witnessed  the  culmination  of 
the  great  collections  of  pears,  Marshall  P.  Wilder  and 
Hovey  &  Co.,  each  exhibiting  three  hundred  dishes, —  a 
larger  number  than  has  since  been  shown.  The  dahlia 
was  slowly  going  out  of  favor ;  but  at  the  Annual 
Exhibition  there  were  a  "  number  of  neat,  pretty  little 
baskets    of  flowers,  showing   in  what  dainty  contrasts 


16 


flowers  could  be  arranged,  aiid  what  pretty  effects  could 
be  produced  by  skilful  fingers." 

The  season  of  1861  was  one  of  the  most  unfavorable 
ever  known  both  for  fruits  and  flowers  ;  yet  at  the  Rose 
Show  bushels  of  flow^ers  were  taken  away  for  want  of 
room  to  show  them.  The  Rogers's  hybrid  grapes  were 
first  shown.  The  Eucharis  Amazonica,  Lapageria  rosea, 
and  Caladium  argyrites,  were  among  the  notabilities 
in  plants.  1862  was  as  favorable  for  an  abundance  of 
fruits  and  flowers  as  the  preceding  year  had  been  un- 
propitious,  and  was  noted  for  the  appearance  of  the 
Lillum  auratiim,  and  for  the  ninth  session  of  the  Ameri- 
can Pomological  Society.  The  next  year  came  the 
Coleus  Verschaffeiti,  and  the  first  of  those  beautiful  dis- 
plays of  seedling  gladioli  which  now  form  so  attractive 
a  portion  of  our  exhibitions.  In  1864  the  hybrid  per- 
petual roses  were  recorded  as  very  large  and  perfect. 
At  the  Annual  Show  there  were  eighteen  or  twenty 
baskets  of  flowers  (some  arranged  with  exquisite  taste), 
a  collection  of  twenty-five  varieties  of  native  grapes,  and 
one  of  a  hundred  and  two  varieties  of  beans. 

This  closes  what  we  have  designated  the  second  era 
in  the  history  of  the  society.  It  will  be  seen,  that,  as 
respects  the  pear,  the  work  of  coUections  during  this  era 
culminated,  and  the  work  of  selection  had  well  pro- 
gressed. It  was  during  this  period  that  two  of  our 
most  valuable  native  pears,  the  Dana's  Hovey  and 
Clapp's  Favorite,  were  originated  by  members  of  the 
society,  and  first  made  known  through  its  exhibitions. 
A  great  number  of  varieties  of  strawberries  had  been 
tested,  including  all  the  European  kinds  of  high 
repute,  most  of  which  had  proved  not  to  be  adapted 
to  this  climate.  We  have  noted  the  commencement  of 
the  excitement  in  regard  to  native  grapes,  and  the 
advent  of  the  Concord,  the  Allen's  Hybrid,  and  other 
improved  varieties,  and  the  share  of  our  society  in  the 


17 


establishment  of  the  American  Pomological  Society,  two 
of  whose  meetings  and  exhibitions  were  held  under  the 
auspices  of  the  former  in  this  era. 

In  the  flower  department  we  have  noted  the  intro- 
duction of  the  deutzias,  the  weigelia,  the  dielytra,  and 
the  Lillum  auratum.  A  period  which  includes  the 
introduction  of  such  beautiful  and  popular  plants  must 
be  deemed  a  most  important  one ;  yet  we  might  add 
the  names  of  hundreds  more  only  less  conspicuous  than 
these.  Among  green-house  plants  perhaps  the  most 
extraordinary  acquisition  Avas  the  Victoria  regia ;  and, 
though  not  now  cultivated  here,  such  is  not  the  case 
with  the  multitudes  of  variegated-leaved  plants,  the 
introduction  of  which  took  place  at  about  the  same 
time  with  the  flowering  of  the  Victoria,  and  the  taste 
for  which  has  been  continually  increasing.  Among 
flowering  plants  we  can  only  allude  to  the  improvement 
in  the  azalea,  the  fuchsia,  the  gloxinia  and  other 
green-house  plants.  In  the  garden  we  notice  the  mul- 
tiplication of  beautiful  roses,  and  especially  the  advent 
and  improvement  of  the  hybrid  perpetual  class.  Next 
to  the  rose,  the  gladiolus  showed  most  advance,  but 
hardly  more  than  that  in  hardy  rhododendrons  and  aza- 
leas, in  tree  and  herbaceous  pi^eonies,  in  the  phlox,  the 
astor,  the  petunia,  and  the  hollyhock  ;  while  the  taste 
for  the  dahlia  —  once  next  to  the  rose  in  popularity  — 
was  on  the  decline.  Nor  would  we  overlook  the  revival 
of  interest  in  the  exhibition  of  native  plants.  In  new 
seedlings  originated  here,  the  greatest  advance  was 
shown  in  the  gladiolus  ;  but  the  phlox  continued  to  be 
a  favorite  subject  of  improvement ;  and  the  hardy  rho- 
dodendrons, Japan  lilies,  petunias,  and  many  others  on 
a  smaller  scale,  were  the  subjects  of  successful  experi- 
ments. 

Closely  connected  with  the  cultivation  of  flowers  is  the 
growth  of  a  better  taste  in  regard  to  their  arrangement 


18 


in  bouquets,  baskets,  and  other  designs ;  for  which  we 
are  largely  indebted  to  the  lady  members  of  the  soci- 
ety. The  large  designs  which  show  the  skill  of  the 
architect  rather  than  the  taste  of  the  florist  are  justly 
banished  from  our  halls.  The  establishment  of  the 
Committee  on  Gardens  marks  the  progress,  not  only  of 
improvement  in  the  culture  of  fruit,  flower,  and  vege- 
table gardens,  but  in  the  laying-out  of  ornamental  and 
pleasure  grounds  with  artistic  effect.  It  was  during 
this  era  that  the  Hunnewell  Triennial  Premiums  were 
established  by  the  generous  patron  of  horticulture  whose 
name  they  bear,  to  promote  the  application  of  science, 
skill,  and  taste  to  landscape-gardening. 

In  the  kitchen-garden  we  have  noticed  the  zeal  of 
cultivators  in  testing  large  collections  of  potatoes,  beans, 
squashes,  and  turnips,  and  the  improved  varieties  intro- 
duced ;  while  the  specimens  exhibited  showed  a  marked 
improvement  in  cultivation.  The  tomato,  in  its  change 
from  a  soft  and  wrinkled  state  to  the  smooth  and  solid 
varieties  now  exclusively  grown,  is  a  most  striking 
example  of  improvement. 

Tliis  era  was  especially  noted  for  its  brilliant  festivals 
in  Faneuil  Hall,  graced  by  large  assemblages  of  ladies 
and  gentlemen.  Among  those  who  thus  met  to  do 
honor  to  the  society  were  many  of  the  most  distin- 
guished persons  in  our  land,  of  whom  we  may  re- 
member Daniel  Webster,  Edward  Everett,  William  H. 
Seward,  Andrew  Jackson  Downing,  Caleb  Cushing, 
Robert  C.  Winthrop,  Morton  JNIcMichael,  and  Madam 
Alexander  Hamilton.  These  festivals  gave  great  pop- 
ularity to  the  society,  and  assisted  in  bringing  to  its 
treasury  increased  donations,  the  interest  of  which  was 
to  be  distributed  in  prizes  to  promote  the  objects  of  the 
society.  The  mention  of  these  generous  gifts  at  once 
recalls  to  your  minds  the  honored  names  of  Appleton, 
Lowell,  Lyman,  Bradlee,  Hunnewell,  and  French. 


19 


The  twenty  year.s  of  this  era  were  years  of  prosper- 
ity to  the  society ;  and,  though  they  include  several  of 
the  most  inauspicious  seasons  known  since  its  founda- 
tion, the  number  of  contributors  to  the  show^  was  so 
large,  that  a  contribution  of  a  comparatively  small  por- 
tion of  the  products  of  each  garden  and  green-house 
afforded,  even  in  the  most  unfavorable  years,  an  inter- 
esting and  instructive  exhibition.  iVnd  if,  in  such  a 
year,  there  was  the  appearance  of  retrogression,  it  was 
but  temporary ;  and  the  return  of  a  more  genial  season 
restored  all  that  had  been  lost,  and  added  much  more. 

And  now  we  come  to  what  I  have  termed  the  third 
or  present  era  in  our  history. 

The  growth  of  the  society,  and  its  influence  both  at 
home  and  abroad,  had  been  constantly  increasing,  so 
that  the  want  of  a  larger  and  more  commodious  build- 
ing was  year  by  year  more  strongly  felt.  Ihis  need 
resulted  in  the  purchase  of  the  present  site,  and  the 
erection  of  this  beautiful  structure,  the  corner-stone  of 
which  was  laid  on  the  18th  of  August,  1864,  the  build- 
ing being  dedicated  on  the  16th  of  September,  1865. 
Appropriate  addresses  were  delivered  on  both  these 
occasions  by  President  Charles  M.  Hovey,  who,  through 
all  the  stages  of  the  project,  had  been  its  firm  and  con- 
stant friend.  The  erection  of  this  building  seemed  to 
be  the  crowning  glory  in  the  history  of  the  society ;  but 
few  are  aware  of  the  difficulties  encountered  in  bring- 
ing the  plan  to  a  successful  issue.  The  incurring  of  a 
large  debt  was,  in  the  minds  of  some  of  our  best 
friends,  of  doubtful  expediency;  but,  thanks  to  an  in- 
domitable and  immutable  friend,  Charles  O.  Whitmore, 
this  objection  was  overcome,  and  to  him  more  than 
to  any  other  man  are  we  indebted  for  this  temple  of  hor- 
ticulture.- Not  only  did  he  adhere  with  firmness  and 
perseverance  to  the  plan  of  the  committee,  until  all  its 
members  signed  the  report  in  favor  of  erecting  the  new 


20 


hall ;  but  he  also,  with  Mr.  Hunnewell  and  Mr.  Cheney, 
presented  the  statues  which  adorn  its  walls. 

In  this  third  era  we  see  the  result  and  development 
—  the  flower  and  fruit  —  of  the  good  seed  sown 
through  all  the  previous  history  of  the  society  ;  a  result 
so  rich,  that  we  can  hut  glance  at  it :  and  indeed  we 
have  less  need  for  detail  here  than  in  the  earlier 
years,  for  it  is  within  the  recollection  of  even  the 
younger  members  of  the  society,  and,  moreover,  it 
will  be  found  fully  related  in  the  history  of  the  society, 
soon  to  be  published. 

In  this  era  occurred  the  Rhododendron  Show  on  the 
Common,  the  most  successful  horticultural  exhibition 
ever  held  in  Boston.  Who  that  saw  it  does  not  still 
retain  the  remembrance  of  its  surpassing-  beauty  I  And 
for  those  who  saw  it,  as  well  as  for  those  who  had  not  that 
privilege,  we  have  a  memorial  in  the  fund  which  accrued 
from  it,  and  which  was  presented  to  the  society  by  the 
generous  friend,  Mr.  Hunnewell,  who  conceived  and 
carried  out  the  plan  to  encourage  the  cultivation  of  his 
favorite  flower. 

In  this  era,  too,  occurred  the  gift  of  ex-President 
Stickney,  for  the  increase  and  benefit  of  the  library, 
which  has  resulted  in  placing  within  reach  of  every 
member  of  the  society  the  most  valuable  collection  of 
books  on  horticulture  and  kindred  subjects,  to  be  found 
in  this  country,  if,  indeed,  it  can  be  equalled  in  the 
world.  Nor  must  we  omit  in  this  connection  the  be- 
quest of  the  valuable  horticultural  and  botanical  library 
by  which  that  long-tried  friend  of  the  society,  John 
Lewis  Russell,  who  had  served  it  so  many  years  as  pro- 
fessor of  botany,  testified  his  remembrance  and  regard. 

Here,  also,  we  may  appropriately  refer  to  the  work  of 
the  society  in  collecting  and  disseminating  horticultural 
information  by  the  lectures  and  discussions  inaugurated 
during  this  era,  under  the  presidency  of  Mr.  Strong,  to 


21 


whom  we  are  most  indebted  for  the  success  attamed ; 
and  by  the  pubUcations  of  the  society,  which,  though 
beginning  with  its  foundation,  have  of  late  attained  an 
importance,  which,  excepting  the  period  from  184:7  to 
1852,  they  did  not  possess  in  any  previous  era.  And 
this  leads  me  to  speak  of  the  growth,  in  our  country 
generally,  of  horticuhural  Kterature,  which,  at  the  organ- 
ization of  the  society,  could  hardly  be  said  to  exist.  In 
the  formation  of  this  literature  the  members  of  this 
society,  and  especially  ex-President  Hovey,  to  whose 
long  series  of  volumes  we  point  with  pride,  may  claim 
to  have  had  their  full  share. 

To  come  more  directly  to  gardening :  the  era  which 
we  speak  of  was  noted  for  the  development  of  carpet 
and  ribbon  gardening,  which  gave  to  our  gardens  a  bril- 
liancv  and  richness  unknown  before.  This  was  rendered 
possible  by  the  introduction  of  numbers  of  new  varie- 
ties of  pelargoniums,  coleus,  a^hyranthes,  centaurea,  and 
of  other  species  before  unknown,  and  at  the  same  time 
stimulated  the  introduction  and  production  of  plants 
suited  to  the  effects  at  which  it  aims.  With  it  came 
sub-tropical  gardening,  imparting  to  our  lawns  and 
pleasure-grounds,  by  the  use  of  palms,  tree-ferns,  agaves, 
musas,  drac?enas,  caladiums,  and  similar  plants,  an  air  of 
refinement  and  distinction  before  unknown.  It  appears 
to  me  that  the  introduction  of  these  and  the  miiltitude 
of  ornamental-foliaged  plants,  both  hardy  and  tender, 
which  now  enrich  our  gardens,  is  the  most  characteristic 
feature  of  the  present  era  in  horticulture.  Our  wealth 
in  the  rich  forms  of  tropical  foliage,  and  the  skill  of  our 
cultivators,  were  revealed  in  the  exhibitions  of  18 To, 
1874,  and  1875,  when  the  spacious  Music  Hall  appeared 
transformed  into  a  tropical  garden.  The  names  of  half 
the  species  which  have  been  introduced  would  extend 
this  address  beyond  all  reasonable  limits,  'ihe  mention 
of  Bougainvillea,  Cyanophyllum,  Anthurium,  Allamanda, 


22 

Sanchezia,  Dalechampia,  Medinilla,  Dracaena,  Alocasia, 
Croton,  Pandanus,  Phormium,  Phyllotirnium,  and  Be- 
gonia, calls  up  at  once  the  recollection  of  hundreds  of 
others,  rich  in  flower  and  foliage  beyond  any  thing 
dreamed  of  when  this  society  was  formed.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  the  curious  and  delicate  forms  of  green- 
house ferns ;  yet  these  are  rivalled  by  the  species  from 
our  own  woods,  which  have  been  during  this  era  so 
thoroughly  studied,  and  brought  into  cultivation.  Hot- 
house orchids  were  hardly  known  here  half  a  century 
ago ;  yet  at  almost  every  exhibition  now  they  surprise 
and  delight  us  by  some  new  and  wonderful  form,  or 
gorgeous  color.  In  the  out-door  garden,  the  develop- 
ment of  the  hybrid  perpetual  roses,  in  their  endless  varie- 
ties of  form  and  color,  would  alone  have  signalized  this 
era ;  yet  we  have  seen  equal  improvement  in  the  Rho- 
dodendron, while  the  new  Deutzias,  Hydrangeas,  Vibur- 
nums, the  Azalea  mollis,  and  the  Aquilegias,  are  repre- 
sentatives of  plants  which  are  destined  to  find  a  place  in 
every  garden.  That  our  cultivators  have  not  merely  in- 
troduced, but  originated  new  plants,  is  witnessed  by  the 
magnificent  Lilies  of  Mr.  Hovey  and  Mr.  Parkman,  the 
DraCcPuas  of  Mr.  Butler  and  Mr.  Harris,  the  Ptponies  of 
Mr.  Richardson  and  Dr.  Kirtland,  the  Carnations  and 
Gladioli  of  Messrs.  Hyde,  Richards,  Crafts,  and  others, 
and  the  numerous  seedling  Lilies,  Coleus,  Lis,  Phloxes, 
Delphiniums,  Pelargoniums,  and  other  flowers  almost 
weekly  presented. 

The  extent  of  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of 
])articular  flowers  is  testified  by  the  special  exhibitions 
to  which  the  Rose,  the  Rhododendron,  the  Pelargo- 
nium, the  Lidian  Azalea,  and  the  Chrysanthemum  have 
given  their  names.  The  winter  exhibitions,  especially 
of  roses,  have  of  late  grown  in  extent  and  beauty ;  the 
exhibitions  and  discussions  having  exerted  a  mutually 
beneficial  eft'ect. 


23 


It  is  to  be  noticed  as  another  prominent  characteristic 
of  the  horticulture  of  this  era,  that  the  enjoyment  of 
flowers  is  not  confined  to  those  who  cultivate  them  as 
luxuries  of  the  green-house  and  conservatory.  The 
yearly  increasing  market  for  flowers  evidences  a  wide- 
spread taste  for  them  in  the  community ;  while  the 
multiplication  of  cheap  glass  structures  for  their  pro- 
duction strikes  every  one  who  makes  the  slightest  in- 
quiry into  the  progress  of  horticulture.  Equally  striking 
is  the  fact  that  large  quantities  of  forced  roses,  and  other 
green-house  flowers  produced  by  the  skill  of  our  florists, 
are  sent  by  them  to  distant  parts  of  the  country,  whose 
natural  advantages  are  far  superior  to  ours.  But  we 
believe  that  the  disadvantages  under  which  we  labor  are 
more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  stimulus  which  they 
have  given  to  cultivators ;  for  it  is  conceded  that  hor- 
ticulture as  an  art  is  carried  to  higher  pefection  in 
Massachusetts  than  in  any  other  part  of  our  country. 

"■  But  ever  on  the  bleakest  rock 

AVe  bid  the  brightest  beacon  glow, 
And  still  upon  the  thorniest  slock 
The  sweetest  roses  love  to  blow. 

So,  on  our  rude  and  wintr}'  soil 
We  feed  the  kindling  flame  of  art, 

And  steal  the  tropic's  blushing  spoil 
To  bloom  on  Nature's  ic}'  heart." 

In  the  fruit  department  we  seem  to  have  approached 
more  nearly  to  the  limit  of  improvement,  and  our  culti- 
vators are  exacting  in  their  requirements  of  a  new  can- 
didate for  a  place  in  their  gardens  or  orchards  ;  yet  we 
must  not  omit  that  extraordinary  pear,  the  Souvenir  du 
CongTeS,  the  seedlings  of  Messrs.  Clapp  (particularly  the 
fine  variety  named  in  memory  of  Frederick  Clapp),  the 
many  seedlings  by  Dr.  Shurtleff,  Mr.  Dana,  and  others, 
Mr.  Fenno's  Norfolk  cherry  ;  the  new  strawberries  and 


24 


grapes  originated  by  zealous  cultivators,,  and  the  many 
raspberries,  gooseberries,  blackberries,  and  other  small 
fruits  introduced.  The  fame  of  the  society  has  attracted 
from  distant  places  collections  of  fruit  to  be  submitted  to 
the  judgment  of  its  committees  and  members,  and  we 
have  had  the  satisfaction  of  examining  the  productions 
of  orchards  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Nebraska  and  Cali- 
fornia. By  the  exhibition  and  meeting  of  the  American 
Pomological  Society,  held  under  the  auspices  of  our 
society  during  the  era  of  which  we  speak,  and  by  the 
part  taken  in  the  pomological  department  of  the  Cen- 
tennial Exposition,  we  may  claim  a  share  in  the  advance- 
ment of  fruit-growing  throughout  the  country.  The 
advance  and  extension  of  fruit-culture  are  shown  in  the 
enormous  and  yearly  increasing  quantities  sold  in  our 
markets,  and  not  less  is  the  improvement  in  the  quality 
and  varieties  of  vegetables.  The  exportation  of  fruit 
has  also  attained  such  proportions  that  I  must  not  omit 
an  allusion  to  it  here,  as  largely  due  to  the  influence  of 
this  society. 

But  horticulture  includes  more  than  the  finest  fruits 
or  flowers,  or  the  neatest  and  most  skilful  cultivation. 
In  its  application  to  landscape-gardening  it  becomes  a 
fine  art.  To  use  the  words  of  Mr.  Winthrop,  "It  is  in 
its  most  comprehensive  sense  emphatically  the  Fine  Art 
of  common  life.  It  is  eminently  a  Republican  Fine  Art. 
It  distributes  its  productions  with  equal  hand  to  the  rich 
and  the  poor.  Its  implements  may  be  wielded  by  every 
arm,  and  its  results  appreciated  by  every  eye.  It  deco- 
rates the  dwelling  of  the  humblest  laborer  with  undoubted 
originals  by  the  oldest  masters,  and  places  within  his 
daily  view  fruit-pieces  such  as  Ynxi  Iluysum  never 
painted,  and  landscapes  such  as  Poussin  could  only 
copy."  It  was  intended  by  the  founders  of  the  Garden 
and  Cemetery  at  Mount  Auburn  that  these  grounds 
should  ultimately  offer  an  example  of  the  best  style  of 


9n 


landscape  or  picturesque  gardening.  This  design  has 
been  realized  not  only  in  Mount  Auburn  and  other 
cemeteries,  but  in  such  private  grounds  as  those  of 
Messrs.  Hunnewell,  Payson,  Sargent,  Gray,  and  Hayes, 
which  as  the  finest  specimens  of  art,  with  their  beautiful 
lawns,  and  rare  trees  and  plants,  are  among  the  strongest 
attractions  either  to  our  own  residents,  or  to  visitors  from 
abroad. 

And  now,  my  friends,  permit  me  in  conclusion  to  say, 
that,  among  the  various  invitations  which  I  have  received 
to  address  my  fellow-citizens,  I  have  never  been  honored 
with  one  which  I  more  readily  accepted,  or  more  highly 
appreciated,  than  the  invitation  to  address  you  on  this 
occasion,  coming  as  it  does  from  those  with  whom  I 
have  labored  for  so  many  years.  Never  have  1  more 
heartily  joined  with  you  than  I  do  now  in  commemorat- 
ing the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  our  society  ;  and  I  am 
quite  .^ure  there  is  no  one  here  who  does  not  rejoice 
sincerely  in  this  occasion. 

1  have  summed  up  briefly,  and  as  well  as  impaired 
health  would  admit,  a  sketch  of  the  results  of  a  half- 
century's  work.  To  do  justice  to  tlie  subject  would 
extend  this  address  far  beyond  the  limits  of  your  pa- 
tience ;  but  I  trust  I  have  given  you  some  idea  of  the 
work  accomplished  by  this  society.  This  is  the  harvest 
we  have  reaped.  These  are  the  fruits  we  have  gathered. 
But  many  are  the  seeds  which  we  have  sown  which  have 
not  yet  germinated,  and  which  will  bless  the  world  long- 
after  we  have  passed  away  from  it.  With  many  of  us 
the  sun  is  fast  sinking  behind  the  horizon  of  life  ;  but 
the  fruits  of  your  labors  will  continue  to  enrich  with 
golden  hues  and,  spicy  odors  the  tables  of  posterity  for 
ages  after  we  have  dropped,  like  the  fruits  of  autumn, 
to  rise  no  more. 

One  after  another  of  us  will  pass  away.  Few  of  those 
present  will  attend  the  anniversary  of  this  society  at  the 


26 

close  of  the  half-century  upon  which  we  have  entered ; 
but  our  society  shall  still  live  on  and  prosper.  Others 
will  rise  up,  and  carry  on  the  good  work ;  and  as  they 
come  with  fruits  and  flowers  —  the  results  of  their  labors 
—  to  adorn  these  halls,  they  will  remember  those  who 
have  jj^one  before.  Thus  from  generation  to  generation 
may  this  temple  continue  to  stand,  and  honor  the  names 
of  those  who  erected  it. 

Commemorating  as  we  do  by  this  celebration  the  com- 
pletion of  the  first  half-century  of  the  existence  of  our 
society,  it  is  natural  to  look  forward  to  the  future  of  its 
history.  When  we  reflect  upon  what  has  already  been 
accomplished,  how  from  its  small  beginnings  it  has  risen 
to  its  present  usefulness  and  renown,  who  does  not  feel 
that  its  future  is  yet  to  be  equally  prosperous  and  glo- 
rious ] 

The  seed  which  has  been  sown, 

"  Thougli  it  long  lies  buried  in  the  dust, 
Shall  not  deceive  our  hope," 

but  will  continue  to  spring  up  for  years  to  come.  Much  as 
has  been  accomplished,  still  greater  results  are  in  store  for 
posterity ;  and  as  time  advances,  still  richer  acquisitions 
in  fruit  and  flower  will  gladden  the  eyes,  and  charm  the 
senses  ;  and,  as  you  and  your  posterity  shall  come  up  to 
these  altars  with  your  votive  off"erings,  let  all  remember 
with  gratitude  those  who  laid  the  foundations  of  this 
society,  and  those  who  have  so  actively  co-operated  with 
us  to  advance  the  objects  of  our  institution,  and  have 
brought  it  forward  to  its  present  prosperous  condition. 
As  the  members  from  time  to  time  congregate  in  these 
halls,  think  you  not,  that,  if  these  portraits  could  speak 
from  the  canvas,  they  would  bless  you  for  your  works  1 
Methinks  they  now  speak  to  us,  and  rejoice  with  us  in 
the  good  which  this  institution  has  bestowed  on  the 
world. 


27 

And  now,  remembering  those  who  have  gone  before, 
let  us  extend  a  hearty  welcome  to  those  who  are  to  suc- 
ceed us. 

Welcome  to  our  homes,  and  the  beautiful  grounds 
which  we  have  made  and  planted  for  your  happiness ! 
Welcome  to  our  fruitful  orchards,  smiling  gardens,  and 
charming  landscapes,  which  we  shall  leave  to  you ! 
Welcome  to  these  halls,  whose  walls  have  resounded  so 
often  with  cordial  greetings  and  friendly  salutations  ; 
where  thousands  shall  minister  in  the  future  at  the  al- 
tars of  nature  and  of  art,  until  perfection  shall  crown 
our  tables,  and  gladden  our  sight,  and  we  shall  have 
exchanged  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  for  the  culture  of 
the  soul ! 

Welcome  to  its  libraries  and  to  all  its  privileges  and 
pleasures !  and  when  at  last  we  shall  relinquish  our 
labors  on  earth,  may  we  fall  into  the  lap  of  mother- 
earth,  like  the  ripened  fruits  of  summer,  then  to  be 
welcomed  to  those  celestial  fields,  and  to  that  richer 
inheritance  in  the  better  land  where  the  flower  shall 
never  fade,  the  leaf  never  wither,  the  fruit  never  perish; 
to  the  rewards  of  a  well-spent  life  on  earth,  that  we  may 
partake  of  the  tree  which  bears  immortal  fruit,  —  its 
bloom  on  earth,  its  fruit  in  heaven. 


